State Sen. Jim Oberweis, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, on Tuesday called for his Democratic opponent, Sen. Dick Durbin, to agree to participate in seven debates.

The Durbin campaign did not accept Oberweis’ challenge, but campaign spokesman Ron Holmes said the incumbent senator “looks forward to working out the terms of this fall’s joint appearance schedule.”

Durbin, who is seeking his fourth term in the U.S. Senate, has debated every challenger he’s had, Holmes said.

Oberweis, from Sugar Grove, suggested the debates via a press release sent by his campaign spokesman, Dan Curry. Just months ago, Curry was spokesman for Oberweis’ primary opponent, Doug Truax, who spent the final weeks of the primary campaign blasting Oberweis for refusing debate invitations.

Oberweis and Truax met for just one debate, which was not broadcast beyond the retirement community where it took place. Oberweis at the time said he was not available to debate on most weekdays because of legislative duties in Springfield.

In its press release today, Oberweis’ campaign said that the debates he proposes would allow voters to compare the candidates’ records.

At least three of the seven debates would be in downstate locations, outside the Chicago media market. One of the debates would be co-hosted by a liberal organization and one would be co-hosted by a conservative organization “for diversity of questioning,” the press release said. The release also proposed using “open, free-wheeling formats to allow the best format to debate issues.”